Navi

No new news on my end Dustin... and one ear IS to the ground.... Sabout time something was happening I would think..... Nav

Like to have been a fly on the wall when the Garmin <> uAvionix suit was settled... There is a feeling that Garmin got spanked a little... It got difficult when the US Patent office issued uAvionix a patent for their technology. I have ben around that world, and one of the principal requirements is that there can be NO confusion or similarity with other solutions that may be out there / available… And then uAvionix had some $$$$$ to buy Aerovonics…. Hmmmmmm ? Nav

Soon I expect.. Steve will announce it here.. N

FWIW.... a phone conversation with TT early this year indicated that they wanted to remove the restrictions and very interested in doing so, but the order backlog was consuming every resource they had.... They had hoped for strong sales, but absolutely NEVER expected the response they received... Further development (read certifications) goes to the back burner when customers are lined up at the door, $$$ in hand... N

Hmmmm.. Coles notes... on BK/TT Webinar ... Takeaway from the TT BK Seminar... Plans for, hopes for.. The TruTrak / BK Autopilot… - Andrew is now VP of Experimental and Aftermarket Products for the Americas. - Mooney STC Application is almost ready, in model verification. Hoped for 4 Th quarter this year. Wood wings NOT included, would require completely new design, VERY different airframe construction... - Grumman application is in to FAA (with lots of help from the manufacturer) - Backlog of orders are expected to be cleared/much lessened by December. FEATURES - IAS Select, Alt restriction lifted, coupled approach restriction removed and Auto trim will be pursued in the next year. ... FIXES - Static Lag "Save" bug fixed - Slow directed turn bug fixed INTEGRATION ASPEN E5... - AP will follow Baro sync, Heading and will "pass through" GPSS. (No Alt bug until next update of Aspen software. ) GARMIN G5 - AP will follow Heading Bug, and Alt Bug. G5 will NOT pass through GPSS information, You will need a "source" switch to bypass the G5 with the GPSS info from your navigator. (AGAIN, discussion about Garmin discontinuing the output of the G5 in a future update TO PREVENT it being used with other autopilots than the GFC 500. This thought continues to gain traction in the marketplace. Garmin has not and will not support the interface, G5 <> TT (or any other AP) , Aspen does and will continue the support of the interface. ) Clearly, Steven and Andrew are concerned about this happening... (my opinion only ) OTHER Basically, Aspen is supporting integration with other products, Garmin wants an all Garmin panel in your plane... and I guess they may be prepared to insist on it... BK/TT is co-operating with other manufacturers (one was present in the Seminar) for integration with other products, so you will have more choices for upgrades in the future. This from memory and a few noted last night. Hope I got it all correct, the discussion moved quickly... Feel free to add or correct the above if able.. N

4th quarter is VERY possible, depending on FAA. N

It was recorded, Steve will post a link to the recording... Was a lot of good information ! :) Nav

What is coming in the Aspen E5 Interface Steve? Nav

Hi Steve! OK …… I will throw a thought or two in here.. (Background... I am a private pilot and aircraft owner, but retired from a lifetime in business (s) and consulting) Your new product, the TT Vizion/AeroCruise, is a remarkably good piece of equipment. (I have been flying it for 17 months).... But not many realise how close it is to being a market killer... BK has acquired an individual (Andrew) and an amazing team that surprised everybody. It is not a reach to presume that there are about twice the number of TT autopilots being installed these days as ALL OTHER BRANDS combined. But I will assume that your corporate people know this .. What is NOT considered often is how close it is to being an exceptional product.. TT have the Autotrim figured out... they know how, and the Vizion software and mechanicals are almost ready now.. IAS Select is only a software change, everything else is already there..... (needs STC) Operation below 700 feet only has to be tested and approved... (These features were omitted for fast STC approval , a good corporate decision BTW) The Aspen<>TT interface is considered the "sweet spot" combination by so many waiting... Integration with the AeroVue touch would be another sweet combo... but the BK reputation will have to improve to get substantial market interest (your presence here will help a lot!) (Supporting your dealers with manuals and parts again will be the biggest step to fixing this) If BKs expertise and investment can deal with these items... and add these features to the existing.. (!) (I would order ALL of these upgrades) …...well, probably best to ramp up the production capacity first and get the backlog under control, but I see an amazing opportunity here.. So there it is, some information that I fully accept you may already have... but , in case you don't... I think this is an incredible corporate opportunity for BK <> TruTrak. Andrew lives and breathes autopilots and he is now on your team. Don't let your people mess this one up.... You guys could rip up this market… FWIW... N

As far as the customer experience/ support is concerned, nothing seems to have changed... Same voices on phone.. etc. Order back log seems to be increasing, the PA-32 and 182 crowd seems to have caught wind... Good for TT<>BK, not so good if you are waiting... "Tis what it is... :) Nav

Strange... they have been FLYING their Mooney in extensive flight testing for a long time... The install was completed a long time ago….. ??? I can't keep track now.... toooooo much noise... Nav

I'm moving on. Looking at other options BK has no incentive to certify an airplane be with a diminishing population when they can go to light sprt expanding it's numbers It'll never happen for short bodies. I'm checking Trio and others Maybe a new panel with (gag) Garmin Um... Cliffy.. Pretty sure that the TT STC includes ALL the Mooneys.. Including the short... The certed Trio may disappear... it is now categorically a "non starter"... Some who have purchased / installed are concerned now about being orphaned... No company can support such a low volume of units in the field.. unless Trio themselves step in... Nav

What install? Nav

OK, so you are a tough crowd, so be it.... But why trash a guy who has been successful when others were not, and is making tough decisions to get his product to market sooner for guys like you? What will be, will be, … but Andrew is not on this earth to make an autopilot for YOU or ME. He has to make a future for himself and his family, and that has to guide his thoughts and decisions. I did some snooping... The big guys are getting the attention of the FAA, little guys are not. This might fix it. The backlog of orders at TT is crazy and growing. Approval of the Mooney STC when it happens, will result in several hundred MORE orders. It is a real problem, they have people building autopilots that should be designing new installations/STCs. They have hired more staff, but it takes a while to bring production on stream. This might fix that too. But their backlog of orders is a HUGE problem, and getting worse daily. The STC application for the Mooneys has been sent in, on time, the rest is up to the FAA. So of you must, beat on THEM now. Fact.. There are more TT autopilots being installed these days than ALL OTHER BRANDS COMBINED. Fact.. If you are not in the preorder list, you will wait even longer, because this AP is flying the PA32s and 182s exactly as it should, the word is out, and THEY are calling... Have you checked out Andrew's vid on their FB page.. ? Check it out, then throw more darts if you must... I waited for my TT, and it has more than met expectations.. and Andrew says he is keeping the hat.... :) YMMV... Nav

Hmmm... it's early yet... :) It's a crowded niche market... changing the price point (without adding features) is risky.. I see the possibility of... Selectable airspeed, cert below 700 ft., integration with the Aero View Touch, Auto Trim... etc. sooner... Nav

Not a surprise … let's see how it works out.... :) Nav

Hahahaha.. not a chance! Your Moonship will pass my Warrior like I am in a stall.... All I will ever see is your tail light.... :) Nav

Remember... The above is for the Pipers... And yes, for "clean" installs.. moving any of the radio stack around and moving antennas on the belly of the aircraft under the back seat adds to the time/cost. Removing our old AP was easy, and the time involved in removals was gained back with time saved by using existing wiring from the GPS (2) , master switch , breaker and yoke switch wiring.. So the removal time was a wash.... (and the TT roll servo bolts back in the SAME place. and with the identical bracket dimensions as the Century I servo) Panels removed for the Century I removal were the same panels for the TT install. >>I had one avionics shop describe their general pricing of autopilots install labor is roughly 25hrs per servo involved? We did the WHOLE removal/installation in 19-20 man hours... Again, this in a Piper Warrior. Mooneys will be different. I am told there are more difficult to access some areas.. The TT install in the PA-28s is brilliantly simple... (others words) I caution the Mooneys may be different.. but word in the forums suggest it may be quite easy... The "25 hrs per servo" thingy has NOT been the case for the TTs being installed in Cessnas, PA-28s and PA-32s... We will know soon... Nav

Last indication is that the TT AML will include all Mooney variants.. Nav

True !.... Believe me.... TT wants this approved and shipping more than EVERYBODY here! It is worth the wait... Mine (In my Warrior) has exceeded expectations... it flies the plane accurately and consistently... 19 of 20 PA-28s fly out the door with the factory settings.. (they must have test flown this system a LOT!) Problems have been very few. TT have overnighted replacement components when needed... Tech support has been helpful and accurate. Some shops have done SO MANY installs that there are second nature.. plane in on Monday AM, it flies home with the new owner Tues evening.. Looks like there are more TTs being installed than all other autopilots combined. One shop in Florida has done over 40, and that was as of May, and they are doing multiple installs each week. This idea of week/ two week down time for autopilot installs is history.. Talk about "disruptive technology" ? - You are witnessing it... The TT flies rings around all the old rate based stuff... (which is still available if you want to pay more (a LOT more) for old technology...) There is no reason at all that TT will not have the same results with the Mooneys. You are gona like it... ! Nav

You are in guys! if you have a Mooney M20 J, K, M, R or S model. Garmin just announced the STC approval for the GFC 500. (AV Web this AM) No details.. Nav

According to Andrew, it is exactly the same as the TT Vizion . It may differ in the future as it may be modified to work with extra features integrated with the BK "AeroVu" PFDs... But for now, exactly the same... N

Just had an online conversation with Corey Reed yesterday.. . For guy that was (supposedly?) fired, he sure still has a great relationship with TruTrack. He is still offering help and suggestions on the TT autopilot and is actively promoting their product. He is pursuing his dream of flying commercially. Building lots of hours flying a Cessna for a surveying/mapping company. Says the hours are building, but having some very long days when the weather is good.... Nav

>>I can see no reason why I couldn't run wires identical to the wire runs in the 172 (wires only) behind the left side to the hell hole area so I don't have to pull down the entire interior in 6 months again if they use that area for the wire run. Sure, I'd have to slice them in to the harness but that's easier than pulling down the entire interior. Were you able to get a harness Cliffy? The wire sizes needed are on the TT website if you need to make your own … Nav

I am with Jesse on this one... TruTrak just reached 20 people… Still a small player here... What they have done so far is nothing short of remarkable... N